How was the Battle of Britain Won? | Animated History

Sources:
The Longest Night, Gavin Mortimer

Music:
WIP

[TheArmchairHistorian]

Thanks for watching! Please leave corrections below this comment.
Griff

[bplup]

Hitler: "Where Napolean failed, I shall succeed."

Oh sweet summer child

[brucethomson]

My grandfather fought as a rear gunner during the battle of Britain. He was stationed at RAF Hornchurch and after the war a road was named in his honour - Robinson Close. He never spoke about his experiences but I think he was one of the bravest men who ever lived. Thank you Grandpa.

[johnbarton]

I was in London during the blitz. I was only six at the time, but I remember it as though it was yesterday.

[seirousgamer]

"Where Napoleon failed, I shall succeed. I shall land on the shores of Britain."


Angry moustache man
(Proceeds to lose in Russia)

[cal-efc]

My granddad is 90 this year he was a 11/12 during the blitz in Liverpool he got evacuated but didn’t stay in the country long as he ran back to Liverpool to to look after his mum

[bobhotpocket]

"Where Napoleon failed, I shall succeed. I shall land on the shores of Britain."


that didnt age well

[nickgooderham]

It should be mentioned that Canada, Australia, and New Zealand provided aircrew to Britain during the battle. Canada provided a RCAF squadron and 87 aircrew. New Zealand had 100 aircrew and Australia provided 21. Poles numbered 135.

[lesjo]

Although it’s an often told story, it was nice to hear from someone that’s not British. It sounds even more amazing when it’s told without bias. They were so brave at such a frightening time in history. Peace to all.

[markncl]

The sacrifice and the skill of "the Few" should never be forgotten.

[Twirlyhead]

Those Polish, Czech and Free French boys thought it was Christmas when the British gave them fighters and pointed them at the Germans and a fine part they played too. Those that went home to Soviet controlled Eastern Europe after the war were treated terribly by the Russians.

[michaelstewart]

I remember that summer well, although I was only a child in 1940. On looking back it is surprising how tranquil the summer was with just a few planes visible from out in the suburbs where we lived. Few were aware on what was going on up at 20 or 30K feet.

[williamcarey]

Hugh Dowding was the best and greatest Air Force General in history!! No one comes close considering his resources and what he was up against!!

[Deeppurple-lf]

To this day if you buy a house in London the surveyor will pull out a map to see if any ww2 bombs exploded nearby..damaged to foundations I think.

[Jack]

‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few’ - Sir Winston Churchill

[cindys]

6:24 "there had been reported cases of RAF pilots being shot down and rejoining the battle the same day" (!)

Respect.

[britbazza]

My Great Uncle worked for the LFB in WW2 and was one of the Firemen ordered to St Pauls Cathedral on the longest night. To save St Paul's at any cost was the order given by Churchill.

My Uncle said it was petrifying everywhere around where he was stationed had incendiary bombs dropping and starting signal fires for bigger bombs to be dropped a bit later. My Uncle and his colleagues were tasked to extinguish the fires, then came the 500lb high explosive bombs all around him again he had to remain there and fight the fires all around the Cathedral.

All around due to the heat of the fires whole brick buildings were collapsing. The constant dropping of the 500Ib bombs caused more devastation.

Eventually It stopped due to cloud cover over the UK and Channel and the firemen could get a grip of the fires because the last wave of bombers never got across the Channel.

The longest night as it was called was chosen by Hitler because the tide in the Thames was out that night. Hitler knew that the Thames would play a vital part for the LFB in extinguishing that amount of fires in the city to protect London. So he used it to his advantage, My Uncle and his collegues had to use fire engine water tanks and hand pumps to extinguish the fires that night. He said it was Hell on Earth!

But the following day St Paul's Cathedral was left standing proud above the London skyline.

All My Uncle had to defeat German might was a hose pipe a hard hat and water. No guns no weapons while Hitler and Germany threw their best at him. Yet on Rememberance day no one remembers the fireman of the LFB. I personally think they were some of the bravest men on the front line!

So it may seem like a game to everyone on here that subscribed to this channel but please remember this is history not a game that can be switched on and off at a whim. The men and women that were in this war were real men and women who had real families and many lost their lives in one way or another. Whether they were in the planes or on the ground fighting to save Britain with or without guns!

[MM-murv]

Possibly one of the most important and impressive military victory’s every recorded

[mrjockt]

One of the factors overlooked by many that contributed to the R.A.F.’s victory during the Battle of Britain was the aircraft repair facility set up just before the war, it’s estimated that as many as 30% of the R.A.F. fighters shot down over the south of England during the battle were repaired and returned to service, that coupled with the production of new aircraft helped ensure the R.A.F. had a constant supply of replacement aircraft for its squadrons.

[randycheow]

"Give me a squadron of spitfires"